“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me…You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” -Walt Disney

No one knows how to better handle adversity than Walt Disney.

At age 16, he dropped out of school and, after being rejected from the Army for being underage, he volunteered as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in France. By 22, he was bankrupt after the failure of his second company. But passion – the compelling desire or enthusiasm to entertain – was Disney’s driving force that kept him moving forward.

Finally, Disney’s big break came with his third venture, Walt Disney Studios, ultimately producing the character Mickey Mouse and the animation “Steamboat Willie.” As they say, the rest is history.

What is there to learn from this?  

We all face adversity in our lives and in business. There are days when it would be easier to just throw in the towel. But reminding yourself of the purpose and passion of why you chose to do what you do should be the catalyst to keep the fire lit and to keep going when things get tough.

The year 2020 is certainly a year like no other.

The best quote I have heard to date is, “2020 is like walking up to an intersection, looking left and right, and then stepping out to cross the street and getting hit by an airplane.” Just when we think we have witnessed the unexpected something new seems to come along.

The advice that we provide the members we work with is to stay the course and lean on the habits that got you to success in the first place. Focus on execution.

How can you do this?

  • Update your One-Page Strategic Plan Targets for the back half of 2020. Have your numbers changed?
  • Update just a few initiatives that you can get done in the next 6 months and that are most important. Don’t overload yourself with too many.
  • Develop a work plan for Q3 to capture the most important priorities that need to get done.
  • Assign those priorities to the owners that are most capable of leading them to success.
  • Assign Critical Numbers that dictate success and share them across the organization.
  • Communicate, support, and motivate your team members through your meeting rhythms.
  • And last, but not least, take care of yourself and keep your fitness regimen regular and rigorous.

With plenty of data points to turn to, we know that the habits that led you to success are the same habits that will pull you through this sea of uncertainty. This storm too shall pass – will you come out of it better as a result of staying the course?